Samantha S

I will buy ten. Let me know when and what you need. I'm not in a time crunch. Thank you!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by lynds I just want to say that everyone is wonderful and everyone does appreciate all of the advice that everyone has given....my best friend had a destination wedding a couple of years ago and she has given me some great advice...these forums are wonderful...my friend told me that she skipped the cocktail hour and just had the reception...i thought that was a good idea....and so I am doing that and in return am getting 10 more people for my reception that I don't have to pay extra for...I just think it's a wonderful idea for people who are having like 40 or more people....my friends wedding was awesome and I never noticed that she did not have a cocktail hour...just an idea i guess..... I'm doing the same thing! It is a nice comprimise to still have a formal reception but not completely break the bank. There will be plenty of cocktails flowing at the dinner!

Quote: Originally Posted by Ana Cerda Thanks Samantha, you are very kind. That was all i was asking for, some help to guide me in this forum since I am new. I saw the post and it is very helpful. Those are very good pictures. They did a very good job. I am planning to go to Dreams Cancun for my site visit around the time they are getting married. I hope to be able to contribute as much as I can to this forum. I am very grateful. God bless you all. No problem, I understand being a new kid because I still am! Jilly is just trying to work with the other senior members/moderators to make the forum as glorious as possible, she is a God-send about Dreams Cancun info and super nice. Every one means well, I know how it can get frustrating for veterans.

Quote: Originally Posted by dancingdolphin For those married, I see a lot of men in tan suits. Are they linen? Where did you get them, without breaking the bank for the groomsmen? Thanks!! I haven't gotten married yet but there is a whole section dedicated to wedding attire: Wedding Attire & rings Try using the search feature too and you will find lots of info about groom and groomsman attire-- especially linen suits.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ana Cerda Susan, I cannot open your pictures, can you PM [email protected]. I need to see some pictures of reception and coctail hour. Ladies if you can forward some pictures to me, please do so. I am new here and need a lot of help. Ana posted a lot of fabulous pictures of the club terrace area for the reception in this thread if you are interested in that area. Go back a few pages in this thread and she posted a ton on this new thread: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t15401. Her username is tlomlad. If you don't find some threads you can post right away in to get points, go welcome some newbies!

Quote: Originally Posted by flygirl Does anyone remember what it cost to have your hair and makeup done at the spa? Just trying to get a realistic picture of my budget and this is one of the things I'm up in the air about. Was thinking about covering the cost for my bridesmaids Daniella emailed me and told me the cost is $100 total for both.

We are getting married November 20, 2008! Almost everything is set, working on the little details at this point. I have gathered lots of info along the way too if any one wants me to email them info because they can't open attachments. Leia78 are you getting married at Dreams Cancun too? Your info says Dreams Cabo...?

Ana!!! Thank you!!! This was so helpful and the pics of the terrace were perfect-- I can imagine a reception there now. I am more excited than ever now.

Quote: Originally Posted by JODEY Hi there, I totally understand where you are comming from !! I'm like an idiot !! Before I knew that you have to pay extra per person over the 20 thats included in the ultimate package (because as you say its AI!) I went and invited loads of people thinking that not many would come and if they did it didn't matter because its AI. Now my guest list is creeping up, (which don't get me wrong I'm really pleased that so many friends and family are joining us) but our budget is just starting to run out of controle a little. I want to upgarde our photography / videography package but may not be able to now because we are having to pay so much for the extra guests What do I do?, the way I see it is when its all over you've only got your memories and photos so this is really important to me, the good thing is I do have time on my side so hopfully will be able to get more money saved although this was supposed to be more of a budget wedding as my cousin got married last year over here in England and it cost her parents £25'000 !!! we decided then that we was not going to spend that king of money for 1 day so here we are ..... x ( sorry it was long ) We were in the same boat but decided on paying for a reception for much of the same reasons as others. It is nice to provide a formal reception for your guests who have traveled there but at the same time, i wouldn't force it and break your bank if it is not in your budget. They will have a great time, its a vacation in Mexico! Surprisingly, our guest list grows and grows and it while it makes us happy, it means less frills for us-- i.e., no upgraded photographer. :-( The wedding packages are great but they really get you on things like flowers and the sound equipment (that one still frustrates me!).

I'm so glad I found this thread! Ticia, your idea is so good. We have friends inviting their family members/friends that we don't know in addition to their significant others and it is seriously worrying us not only cost-wise but because we want a small, intimate wedding with our closest family and friends. My FI wants to let whoever wants to come to Mexico, come to Mexico but then its invite only for the ceremony and reception. I thought it sounded tacky at first to tell people they can't come but its also burdensome on a couple to spend $75+ (in our case) per person for an already expensive wedding for people we don't know! Great and tactful ideas here, thanks!

We are getting married before we go and my FI is also wanting to go soon to get legally married (our Mexico ceremony is in November!). I don't think I can pretend I am not married for like 8 or 9 months. For those who got/are getting married a few weeks to months beforehand-- did you/are you changing your name (if you're doing that) when you do it? I have no will power and I will walk around like Mrs. Simmons after the legal ceremony. He won't be able to pretend either and I am worried about taking away from the special-ness of what we consider our 'real' ceremony in Mexico. Totally stumped.

Quote: Originally Posted by JoannaR Oh your the best with all your fun ideas.. Thats a good idea with the save the dates and i guess you just attatch the information for the travel agency.. Does this effect any deals that you get if you dont have everyone book through your agent or your hotel?? Joanna, you should check out the wedding website: Wedding Planning Guide and Free Wedding Websites - mywedding.com. I am using it and is free and has all of the features I wanted in the ones that I was looking at that had a price associated with them. Our guests LOVE it and it was really fun to make. Easy way to communicate stuff about your travel agent and other accommodations.

Oh my gosh, I have a lot of questions but I can't think of them!! I am most concerned about what the club terrace looks like. I have only seen pictures of a long table set up there so I can't get a feel for what it is really like, how big it is, where people will dance. How far away from the bar is it? I also am interested in knowing how big some of the restaurants are. People on the forum who have been there can probably answer that but I haven't seen it anywhere. Just curious on that one in case we want to do a welcome dinner or something along those lines with as many of our guests as possible but don't want to take over the entire restaurant and annoy other guests. I will have about 45 guests or so. Thanks for posting this offer! We will ALL want to see the answers to the questions that you go there with. Two people in our wedding party will be there while you are, Matt and Krystal from Portland. I know the chances are slim but it's a small world and they are super fun and will definitely be where ever the alcohol is! Have soooo much fun, I am equally happy and jealous! This is how I feel about the weather in Portland right now:

How wonderful!!!!!! Good luck Paula! If waiting anxiously every day for your review is wrong, I don't wanna be right!

Quote: Originally Posted by JoannaR Hi guys, I love all the info after looking into a wedding in Dreams Cabo tammy suggested i did cancun instead for many reasons. I see alot of comments from you lovely ladies. Does anyone know what the pricing is for a 2009 wedding? Also the difference in pricing for a terrace reception as opposed to a ballroom reception?? PS why cant i open alot of the pics It saids i dont have enough points NO FAIR!! Thanks, JOanna Just curious what the reasons for Dreams Cancun over Cabo are? I thought about Dreams Cabo but I did comparisons on flights from all of the locations that most of my guests will be coming from and it was more expensive for a lot of locations to fly to Cabo and about the same across the board for Cancun. Plus reviews were better overall for Dreams Cancun on TripAdvisor. It is my impression that if you are coordinating and booking your wedding with '08 prices before '09 is even out, you'll use '08 prices. I guess Paula can confirm that for us when she gets back, she was in the same boat for arranging under 2007 prices and getting married (now!) in 2008. I think someone said it but all of the reception spots cost the same, you pay for the meals per person (starting at 20 people+ depending on if you get one of the packages). Go welcome some newbies and get some points! Congratulations!

Quote: Originally Posted by MSMANDEEE Hi everyone! I am so excited to start planning! I am leaning towards Dreams Cancun, and I am so excited that there is so much information here! I am leaning towards fall of 2009 does anyone know how far in advance we would need to book? Do most people do site visits? Welcome! I booked my date at Dreams Cancun earlier this month for November 20, 2008. It is a Thursday so I think that is why it was available. I think at least a year is good, but you never know what will be available or what will open up. When are you thinking of?

Congratulations!!! I agree with others, there is so much info on here, you can save the site visit $$$ for the reception. What dates are you thinking of?

Congrats!!! I will be looking for your review before I get hitched there!!

Quote: Originally Posted by TiffJT Apparently phone numbers get smilied out, so if you need that info. PM me. I think the girl that was told at least 80% of her guests had to stay at Dreams was having about 200 guests, so maybe if you have a smaller wedding it doesn't matter. I was never told that rule either. I was told you had to be there 4 business days before the wedding and stay a total of 7 to have your wedding there even though we paid for a wedding package. Since we are just doing a symbolic ceremony our TA negotiated that it be 4 total nights before the wedding (2 weekday 2 weekend We're getting married on a Monday) and only stay 5 total nights at Dreams because we are honeymooning at Secrets Capri for 5 nights which is a sister resort to Dreams. The TA had to get pretty insistant about it with Claudia, so maybe have your TA do the negotiating. It seems like the rules bend a lot there! Hi TiffJT, They way I understand it is that the 4 business days is a requirement of Mexico and it is only for legal ceremonies. You shouldn't have had to negotiate anything if you are not having a legal ceremony. I'm pretty sure of this, does any one else know different?

Yay Paula! It will be glorious, we can't wait to hear how it goes! My friends will be there during your wedding and I told them to peek from afar but I promise they won't crash it. Good question on the buffet, I wouldn't have thought of that. Let us know what you find out!

Oh my goodness, have you seen Dreams' new website? They put all of the wedding info up, I can't believe it! I bet that will make Claudia, Daniella and a million other brides' lifes easier.

Welcome Jhof! Awesome to see another Portlander! You will be just fine and your wedding will be glorious. (then you will give us all the insider tips!). Let me know if you need anything! Question for Jilly or anyone who knows this: Is there seating in the terrace already or do they set up seating only for weddings? In other words, have you been there when there wasn't a wedding and what seating, if any, was there?

Quote: Originally Posted by FunStacy Wow! Thank you everyone. I've signed up for forums before and never have had this type of response!!! Thank you all! Jodey - I havent done any further planning, but I am a graphic/website designer so I cannot wait to jump into the stationery pieces! Samantha - Ill leave a good luck charm near the gazebo for you! Thank you everyone! Stacy Stacy Aulner, Fitness Competitor, Website and Graphic Designer, Naperville, IL THANK YOU!!!

This is all very helpful, thank you all so much! I guess we'll be 'rolling the dice' whether it is in October or November but we will definitely be getting the trip insurance (and having a mid-day wedding!). I'm in the same boat that Jilly was in, in that we would have to wait at least another six months to get married and we're ready to get married way before then. Thanks again!

Quote: Originally Posted by host Dreams "Free" Wedding Package Dreams Cancun Resort offers a free wedding package as follows: Service of Judge Wedding Organization and personalization of our Wedding coordinator Preferential Location of the room in the category reserved Preparation and ironing of the wedding dress and grooms tuxedo/suit Complimentary room for the groom the night before the wedding (based on availability) Personal dressing assistant Use of the Wedding Gazebo located in front of the ocean Bride's Bouquet Boutonniere for the groom Wedding cake and one bottle of sparkling wine for up to 10 guests Special turn down service at night 10% discount on all Spa treatments (product purchases not included) Honeymoon Package (Bottle of Domestic Champagne, Fruit Basket, Flower Petals) Late check-out for Bride and Groom (based on availability) N.B. Reservation of a Junior Suite Ocean View category or higher for a minimum of 7 nights stay is required for this package. You can also add other services (photographer, videographer, etc.) for an additional fee. Hi Tammy-- on the Dreams website, the 2008 free package doesn't list use of the wedding gazebo...is that something they accidently left out?